Can't switch from VGA to HDMI

[bear_1]

I got an Nvidia GT 220 1GB graphics card. It was installed a few years back by a computer technician I used to take the computer to. Since then I've noticed something very strange: he didn't connect the VGA cable to the VGA port on the card; instead, he connected it to the DVI port via a DVI to VGA adaptor. I tried attaching the VGA cable to the VGA port and got a black signal so I just plugged it back on the adaptor and moved on with my life...

...until yesterday when I got an HDMI cable.
I shut the computer down, unplugged the DVI to VGA adaptor with the VGA cable, connected the TV and the PC with the HDMI cable, started it up, no signal. I tried looking in the computer's settings for an option to switch while having both the HDMI and the DVI-VGA cable connected with no results. I tried reinstalling the GPU drivers with no luck again; anyone know what I'm supposed to do? Is it possible that my GPU has a bad HDMI output? My PC suffered from an electrical surge 2 years back due to lightning; we had to replace a lot of parts but the GPU was seemingly intact. Could that be the cause of this problem?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Could just be a faulty GPU. Any electrical surge with PC/Laptop involved; u have no idea what damage it did. Especially when other parts were damages, you can almost be sure something is wrong with that GPU too, just that it may appear to work fully when using DVI.

It's from 2009, it's really time to just replace it. It would be no better then a low-end onboard GPU; so if u have that, just use that for now. For HDTV most support VGA or DVI; depends on the TV. Try ensuring the TV is selected to the correct HDMI, and power off the system prior to changing your inputs around. Give the PC some time to boot. You can try reset the CMOS too, while just HDMI connected and nothing else and see how it does.

Try different cables too.

[Azza ☠]

What is your monitor? A TV?

Firstly understand...

- VGA is a analog signal
- DVI is an analog or digital signal (depending on it's type - DVI-D is digital only)
- HDMI is a digital signal (it contains no analog signal)

The VGA to DVI adapter will still be sending an analog signal.

If your monitor doesn't support digital (only analog), then that is probably your problem. As you have switch over from analog to a digital signal. I can't physically see what you are doing, but that would be my first guess.

Some monitor have an input selector on them (manual or automatic), check the monitor input settings if possible.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

He said the Monitor (VGA) was connected via DVI adapter to the GPU.
But he tried VGA port on GPU by itself, no signal.
Tried HDTV via HDMI port on GPU, no signal...

[_I_]

is the cable dvi -> vga or hdmi -> vga?

there are tons of hdmi -> vga cables on ebay that are for a specific dvd player that outputs hdmi signla thru a port that looks like vga
ex. theres do not work since they do not convert digital to analog
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/222188862619?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

[Bad 💀 Motha]

yea HDMI-to-VGA cables will not work for GPUs.

[bear_1]

My monitor is a TV with both VGA and HDMI inputs. I know the converter sends an analog signal, and I know my TV supports digital signal, both its HDMI ports ports work with my PS3. I am fairly certain what's at fault is my GPU. I connected it it via HDMI only, got no signal, and then hotplugged the DVI to VGA adaptor and it did send signal through there. Shouldn't it detect the HDMI cable and send signal through there?

[Blaagh]

Check the display drivers setting if the 2nd monitor (hdmi) is enabled. if its not showing up there should be an option for manual detection you can try.

[bear_1]

Messaggio originale di ;360670708782821578:

Check the display drivers setting if the 2nd monitor (hdmi) is enabled. if its not showing up there should be an option for manual detection you can try.

There's no second monitor. All of this was on one TV monitor with both VGA and HDMI inputs.

[Blaagh]

But windows doesn't know that. It will see the second connection as another monitor which has to be enabled.

[bear_1]

Messaggio originale di Blaagh:

But windows doesn't know that. It will see the second connection as another monitor which has to be enabled.

Yeah I did try that as you said and nothing happened. VGA just went black and HDMI still had no signal.